Base Air Force Assistance Fund campaign meets goal Published May 13, 2009 By Howdy Stout Tinker Public Affairs TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Donations to this year's Air Force Assistance Fund at Tinker topped nearly $100,000, say campaign organizers. Although the six-week campaign ended May 1, donations are still being collected and counted. AFAF is the Air Force's official charity and contributions are used to fund a number of services, including grants, scholarships and interest-free loans for emergency assistance. Both military personnel and civilian contractors donated to the fund. "We definitely had a good participation," said 1st Lt. Nicholas Wilson, campaign organizer. "I think we met our goal or came really close to it." Donations raised by the service-wide campaign are distributed to four organizations designed to help active and retired Air Force personnel and their dependents: the Air Force Aid Society, the General and Mrs. Curtis E. LeMay Foundation, the Air Force Village Indigent Widows' Fund and the Air Force Enlisted Indigent Widows' Fund. The aid society provides grants, scholarships and interest-free loans for emergency assistance. The fund also provides money for a number of programs, including Child Care for PCS, Youth Employment Skills job training and the General Henry H. Arnold Education Grant Program. Last year the fund provided more than $24 million in loans and grants to more than 45,000 people service-wide. Founded less than 10 years ago, the LeMay Foundation provides assistance to widows of Air Force personnel. The foundation's main source of funding comes from the Air Force Assistance Fund. The Air Force Village Indigent Widows' Fund helps widows and widowers of active duty officers needing assistance with living requirements. The village includes two retirement facilities, in addition to health care services and temporary accommodation for the dependents of Air Force officers who are killed on active duty. Started in 1970, the fund has provided more than $10 million in assistance, including nearly $1 million given to recipients last year. The Air Force Enlisted Village Indigent Widows' Fund provides homes for the surviving spouses of enlisted Air Force, Reserve and Air National Guard members. The fund provides temporary housing for the dependents of enlisted members who are killed on active duty in addition to emergency housing for active or retired airmen during natural disasters. Since 1975, more than 1,600 surviving spouses have found an affordable home with the help of this organization.